REPORTS: Andy Toole visits Siena

There are various reports confirming that Robert Morris head coach Andy Toole is visiting Siena today.

He is the first candidate to visit the Loudonville campus, although Athletic Director John D'Argenio has met with VCU assistant Mike Rhoades.

Andy Toole was an assistant at Robert Morris under Mike Rice, but took over when Rice left for Rutgers. Toole is just 32-years-old and coming off a huge NIT victory over Kentucky, nine days ago. Toolie is 68-36 as the Colonials head man.

Other info coming out today is that Dave Paulsen has signed an extension at Bucknell and that Florida International coach Richard Pitino won't be coming to Siena.

UAlbany's season ends at hands of Duke

AP

PHILADELPHIA - The University at Albany gave it all they had on Friday afternoon.

They trailed by just nine with 2:40 to play, but couldn't overcome the firepower of the Duke offense.

The Blue Devils got 26 points from Seth Curry and 23 more from Mason Plumlee, to advance to the next round of the NCAA tournament.Jacob Iati led four Great Danes in double figures with 15 points. Mike Black scored 10 points in his final collegiate game.

UAlbany sees its winningest season come to an end with 24 victories and drops to 0-3 in the NCAA tournament all-time.

Duke ended a two-game NCAA tournament losing streak and advances to Sunday's game against either Creighton or Cincinnati.

UAlbany gets Duke in NCAA tournament

ALBANY - The University at Albany found out its opponent for the NCAA tournament on Sunday evening.

The Great Danes (24-10) received a No. 15 seed and will play No. 2 Duke (27-5) in Philadelphia on Friday. The time will be announced later.

The game will be played in the Wells Fargo Center, the same arena UAlbany played at in the 2006 NCAA tournament, when the Great Danes nearly took down No. 1 seed Connecticut (it was called the Wachovia Center).

Luke Devlin takes his turn for UAlbany

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Luke Devlin sat with an Australian flag draped around his neck at the postgame press conference and waited his turn to answer some questions.

Devlin waited his turn for much of the season and Saturday was his time.

Devlin shot 6-6 from the field, finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes, as the University at Albany defeated Vermont, 53-49, and punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament.

“Devlin was good," said Vermont coach John Becker. "He made shots.”

Devlin was an all-rookie selection his freshman year, but last season he struggled and this year, he's had his difficulties and found himself behind Blake Metcalf, John Puk and Sam Rowley.

“Our bigs have played tremendous," Devlin said. "I've adjusted to my role coming off the bench and I've been happy
with that because we've been winning. I just got the opportunity to
play a bit more tonight and knock down some shots.”

Devlin took advantage of being less of a priority of the Vermont defense. He was able to make jumpers and finishing easy looks from his tammates.

“He just made shots," said Vermont's Luke Apfeld. "Even when we did
a good job of rotating, he just made good, contested shots.”

Despite being outrebounded 37-21, the Great Danes big men asserted themselves and didn't allow the Catamounts any easy baskets.

“I thought we were aggressive," said UAlbany coach Will Brown. "I
thought we were physical.”

UAlbany is headed to NCAA tournament

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The University at Albany Great Danes are dancing.

For the third time in school history, UAlbany is America East tournament champions and snags the conference's bid to the NCAA tournament. The Great Danes got some big 3-pointers from Jacob Iati and knocked off Vermont, 53-49, at Patrick Gym.

UAlbany will find out its opponent during tomorrow's selection show, which is at 6 p.m.

UAlbany 28, Vermont 20 (half)

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The University at Albany couldn't have started the America East championship game any worse.

They also couldn't have responded any better.

After falling behind 10-0 to Vermont, the Great Danes went on an 11-0 run of their own. They added another 10-0 run later in the half and have a 28-20 lead at halftime.

One of these teams is just one half away from an America East tournament title crown and punching a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Mike Black led the way with 11 points and in doing so, moved into fifth on the school's all-time scoring list. UAlbany also got great play from Luke Devlin, who scored six points and grabbed two rebounds.

Gary Johnson providing spark for UAlbany

ALBANY - From the first day of open gym for the University at Albany men's basketball team, Gary Johnson stood out to his teammates.

A 6-foot-6 junior college transfer, Johnson showed he was athletic and capable of playing big minutes for the Great Danes.

That didn't happen right away, however.

But over the past three weeks, Johnson has become an invaluable piece of the puzzle for UAlbany, which plays at Vermont, in the America East Conference championship game on Saturday, at 11:30 a.m.

“He’s a guy that doesn’t need the ball to be effective," said UAlbany coach Will Brown.

Johnson has started the past five games for the Great Danes, including both games in the America East tournament. In those games, he was matched up against the league's leading scorer, in Maine's Justin Edwards and the conference's MVP, in Stony Brook's Tommy Brenton.

“They gave me an assignment and I took it personal," Johnson said. "I have pride in my
defense. It was fun playing against Justin Edwards and Tommy Brenton
because they’re both aggressive and good players. I’m just happy we got
the ‘W’.”

Over the past 11 games, Johnson is averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.8 assists per game in 22.5 minutes.

Over the team's first 22 games, Johnson played a total of just 54 minutes and compiled stats of nine points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two assists.

“I think he was trying to pick up on everything that we were doing and adjust to this level of basketball," said guard Jacob Iati.

An injury to all-rookie selection Peter Hooley, allowed Johnson to step into the starting lineup. When Hooley returned, the duo has been used effectively by Coach Brown.

“Having him and Pete Hooley on the wing is an awesome advantage for us," said Iati.

Johnson's athleticism couldn't be questioned, but he was trying to get familiar with this level of basketball.

“At the beginning of the year, it was a big transition from junior college to Division I," he said. "The coaches told me that and at first, I didn’t
understand. But now I understand and I’m just happy I can have an impact
on the team.”

Johnson just kept working and it all culminated in the big victory over Stony Brook, where he had nine points and four rebounds, in the 61-59 victory, which resulted in the crowd storming the SEFCU Arena court.

“It was the funniest game I’ve ever played in," he said.

Now, the Great Danes are just one win from the NCAA tournament and Johnson is hoping he can do whatever it takes to help his team win the America East title.

"We want to win this game bad," he said. "It's not going to be easy. We know it's going to be a tough game, but we're prepared."

Siena fires coach Mitch Buonaguro

The Siena men's basketball team will have a new coach. The school announced its decision today to part ways with coach Mitch Buonaguro, who still had one season remaining in his four-year contract. Athletic Director John D'Argenio will meet with the media at 3:30 this afternoon, to discuss the decision. You can watch the press conference here.Buonaguro was an assistant under coach Fran McCaffery for five years, before taking over the head coaching spot before the 2010-11 season, when McCaffery left for Iowa.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity Siena gave me," Buonaguro said, in the school's release.
"It's a very special place, and I've thorughly enjoyed my eight years
here. The student athletes we have brought through the program are
people the Siena community can be very proud of. We had some great
success here, and although the last three years did not produce the
results any of us hoped for on the court, I leave knowing I gave my all
every day. This is a program I care deeply about, and I wish Siena
nothing but the best in the future."

UAlbany 28, Stony Brook 22 (half)

ALBANY - The University at Albany started slowly in the first half, but finished the first 20 minutes well.

The Great Danes lead 28-22, and are just 20 minutes from a spot in the championship game.

UAlbany was led by Jacob Iati, who has seven points, while Mike Black added six.Jameel Warney leads all scorers with eight points for Stony Brook. The half is the second lowest scoring output for the Seawolves, behind scoring 21 in first half against Manhattan, on Jan. 1. Stony Brook shot just 27 percent (8-29) from the floor.

UAlbany 32, New Hampshire 26 (half)

ALBANY - The University at Albany women's team didn't play like the top seed in the first half, but they have the lead nonetheless.Julie Forster scored seven and the Great Danes finished the half on a 12-2 run, to go to the break with a 32-26 lead.

NIagara 32, Siena 31 (half)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A wild and entertaining half of basketball is in the books.

Either Niagara or Siena is just 20 minutes from the semifinals.

The first half saw a little bit of everything, as the Saints trail 32-31. They are in good position, which could be even better if they hadn't missed eight free throws.Evan Hymes and Rob Poole each have nine points for Siena.Antonie Mason leads the Purple Eagles with eight. Antoine's father, Anthony Mason, a former New York Knicks forward, is in attendance.

It was a physical half, with 20 fouls being called, including a technical to Rakeem Brookins.

Niagara lost starter Tahjere McCall early, when he tried to make a move and grabbed at his knee.

Siena 32, Marist 31 (half)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Like the first two meetings this season, the first half was pretty even and pretty intense.Davis Martens' free throw gives the Saints a 32-31 lead at halftime.O.D. Anosike scored 12 points to lead the Saints, but it was Chavaughn Lewis leading all scorers with 14 points for the Red Foxes.

The Saints shot 52 percent (13-25) from the field, but that may not be a great thing since they only lead by one.

Siena 52, Fairfield 48

The Saints led the entire second half, downing Fairfield, 52-48, in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. Siena advances to take on No. 2 seed Iona, at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning.

The victory marks the first MAAC postseason win for Saints coach Ali Jaques.

“That was a really hard-fought win. We’re happy to be here for another
day," she said.

Senior Lily Grenci led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kanika Cummings came off the bench to scored 12 points. Cummings scored seven of her team's final 10 points, hitting some huge shots, including a 3-pointer with three minutes to play.

It was close down the stretch, as the Saints (13-17) missed four free throws in the final 1:17, but they hung on for the win.

The Stags (17-13) were led by Brittany Obi-Tabot, who scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Alexys Vazquez finished with a team-high 15 points.

Siena 31, Fairfield 27 (half)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team is just one half from the semifinals.Lily Grenci scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes, as the Saints lead Fairfield 31-27.Katie Cizynski led the Stags with 10 points.

Siena shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field and led by as many as 11 points.

UAlbany grabs major America East awards

ALBANY - They should have just named to America East awards banquet, the University at Albany awards banquet.

On Thursday evening, the Great Danes cleaned up, winning all of the major awards.

Senior Ebone Henry was named co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson was named Coach of the Year. Freshman Shereesha Richards took home co-Rookie of the Year, while Julie Forster was named to first team, the all-defensive team and the all-academic team.

The top-seeded Great Danes play in the conference semifinals, on Sunday, at 1 p.m.

Maine women out; UAlbany to AE semis

The America East Conference announced on Monday evening that the Maine women's team will not participate in the 2013 America East tournament, this weekend at SEFCU Arena, in Albany.

The decision comes in the wake of the Feb. 26 bus accident, in which the Black Bears were traveling to Boston University, when the bus went off of Interstate 95, near Georgetown, Mass. Coach Richard Barron and Athletic Director Steve Abbott spoke with the student-athletes before notifying the league of its decision.

"It has
been a difficult time for these student-athletes following the
accident," says Robert Dana, Maine's vice president for student affairs and dean
of students. "Our focus has been and continues
to be the health and well-being of these players in their athletic and
academic lives"

Maine's absence means that the University at Albany will advance right into Sunday's semifinals.

"I feel for them," said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who was an assistant at Maine from 1992-94. "That's something tough to go through."

The Great Danes will play Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m., against the winner of the Stony Brook/New Hampshire game.

"I feel really bad for them," said UAlbany senior Ebone Henry. "I wouldn't want that to happen to any team."Fans who have already purchased single-session or all-session passes will receive refunds and can also receive a $10 discount to a future America East championship event. The Stony Brook/New Hampshire quarterfinal will be moved up to 6 p.m., the original time of the UAlbany/Maine game.

“We are
very sympathetic to the traumatic event Maine women’s basketball has
experienced,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “We
entrust this decision to the experts and professionals
on Maine’s campus to do what is best for the student-athletes, coaches
and staff. The America East still looks forward to a great tournament in
Albany this weekend.”

Men's All-MAAC selections

The All-MAAC men's awards were announced Monday afternoon. On Thursday, one of the first team selections and one of the all-rookie choices will be selected as MAAC Player and Rookie of the Year. The Coach of the Year will also be announced.

Siena senior O.D. Anosike was selected to the All-MAAC second team, despite leading his team in scoring and being second in the nation in rebounds per game (11.4). That snaps a seven-year run of Siena having at least one player on the All-MAAC first team. The last season no Siena player was on that list was 2004-05.

About Me

Andrew Santillo is a sports reporter at The Record in Troy, New York. Originally from Niskayuna, Andrew graduated from Ithaca College in 2005 with a degree in journalism. He currently resides in Albany.